Originally Posted By danyoung dean, I can only say this - post 72 went so far beyond that all I can say is - wow, dude - you ain't better than me. No, really - you ain't.
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL Not bothering me in the least. But it sure seems to bother you when called on a RUDE comment YOU made just because someone doesn't see things your way. >> I'd say that you're so locked in to it that you can't begin to see any change at all as having the possibility of being positive. Others have said over and over that these new characters, regardless of whether they stylistically fit or not, do absolutely nothing to dilute the message of children of the world living in peace. But to you they're horrible and don't belong, which is of course your right to feel. I just don't see it, and don't think I ever will.<< Not rude or demeaning. Just stating his feeling. >>>>Well .. funny you should put it all that way. Because, from my point of view as an artist, .. and I'll phrase the same way you dished it out: I'd say that you are so locked in to your casual observations, that you can't begin to see from an artisan's point of view, the gift to understand what works, and what does not. I don't expect a lot of people to understand what I'm fundamentally trying to get across if they've never picked up a drawing utensil and created art, or took art classes. I can get into the mind a bit into those artisans who created 'it's a small world' in the WED shops in 1963. I was blessed with the God-given talent of drawing, and an insight into creativity. I've chosen to keep it my hobby, and I'm proud to have a portfolio of drawings since age 6, including my own design of a theme park I did at age 16. And even though I decided to keep it my hobby, than a full-fledge career, it has not diminished my ability to "see" into a creative process in addition to just "casually observe" it<<<< YOUR words and definitely Holier than thou. Thank you for your time.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I'll just say I'd be curious to hear from someone who is a professional artist and does think the additional characters are not a problem.
Originally Posted By oc_dean Well .. I'll say this ... and that will be it. I'm not better than you. But I expect people working in WDI to be better than any of us. (And I say "us" as in: *Me* too). I expect them to hold up to the highest standard. And have the talents to fathom more than we can grasp. Goodnight.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt I was talking to an "artist" the other day and somehow the topic of WDW came up. Without provocation she started talking about how awful and tacky she thought WDW is, and even went so far as to say most of what is there is "mediocre at best". Her comments remind us that the tastes and preferences of the general public vary wildly. Just because I might dislike the characters in Small World doesn't mean that there aren't just as many who like them or don't give a rat's you know what about them. Furthermore, all this talk about how the artistic merits of IASW have been infringed upon gives far too much importance to the attraction's impact on theme park design or, more concisely, contemporary art. It's a wonderful ride, but this is not The Mona Lisa we're talking about.
Originally Posted By danyoung Well, it's morning, and I've had the time to recover from the shock of post 72. So maybe I can be a little more articulate in saying that you spent your entire post, dean, listing your credentials as an artist as if that in some way validated your opinion as being more important than mine. >I'd say that you are so locked in to your casual observations, that you can't begin to see from an artisan's point of view, the gift to understand what works, and what does not.< No, I'm not an artist. I am, however, a skilled video editor, and as such know how to combine visual and auditory media into a cohesive presentation. And all of that means absolutely nothing when it comes to opinions of a theme park attraction. I have mine, you have yours. We can compare skillsets and experience all day and not change that fact that your opinion has no more or less value than mine. To say that your artistic background makes your opinion more valualbe than mine is disingenuous at best and flat out rude at worst. Not cool, dean - not cool at all.
Originally Posted By Bellella I am not an artist. But I have an eye for what works and what doesn't. In my opinion, the Disney characters don't work in Small World. They work in the rides designed for them (Peter Pan's Flight, Pinocchio's Daring Journey) but definitly not this one. If they want to keep the figures around, why don't they put them on some sort of display in the Small World toy shop, and leave them off the ride? There's already plenty of character merchandise sold there. Small World may not be the Mona Lisa, but to me it represents a lot of good things in the world, and I hate to see it spoiled by commercialism. I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I can't let this one go unchallenged. That's how I feel and I'm sticking to my guns. Happy St. Patty's day!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I can't let this one go unchallenged.>> I'm afraid you're too late, the characters are already installed.
Originally Posted By Bellella That doesn't mean they can't be removed, can it? If they're worried about wasting all the money spent constructing the characters, couldn't they have them on display at the Small World toy shop (where there is plenty of Disney merchandise) and leave them off the ride?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss They can be removed, but I wouldn't count on it happening any time soon. Very few people are calling for their removal; no one is picketing the ride, and DL is apparently is as busy as ever.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "And Yookeroo .. do me a favor, Want to add to the conversation? Then stop pestering me with your annoying one liners that offer nothing into the discussion." No.
Originally Posted By Bellella What if we picketed the ride? You know, a peaceful demonstration? A sit-in? Anyone who hates the new characters interested?
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "Oh Lord, is this rant serious?! If so, you have crossed over the line of one being passionate about not liking the characters added to SW, into idiotic snobbery." It's been snobbery all along. Remember how "attuned" he is the the original vision...unlike anyone who disagrees with him. "Furthermore, all this talk about how the artistic merits of IASW have been infringed upon gives far too much importance to the attraction's impact on theme park design or, more concisely, contemporary art. It's a wonderful ride, but this is not The Mona Lisa we're talking about." Seriously. The art world has tended to have disdain for the work of Disney. I think this is unfair, but it is humorous to see the change decried with the underlying snobbery that we see here.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "What if we picketed the ride? You know, a peaceful demonstration? A sit-in? Anyone who hates the new characters interested?" God, I would love to see this. Please do it on a day I can go. I can always use a laugh.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<What if we picketed the ride? You know, a peaceful demonstration? A sit-in? Anyone who hates the new characters interested?>> <a href="http://tinyurl.com/ch2oul" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/ch2oul</a> <a href="http://tinyurl.com/cukcck" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/cukcck</a> <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/media/photo/2008-04/38004392.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.orlandosentinel.com...4392.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <<"What if we picketed the ride? You know, a peaceful demonstration? A sit-in? Anyone who hates the new characters interested?">> When Mr Toad closed @ WDW they had Toad-in's...didn't work
Originally Posted By Bellella It's not as if we'd be begging to them to make a major change. The removal of the Small World Disney characters would be very minor. I'd be willing to compromise on the America scene. I'd love for them to remove that, but that would be asking for too much. Anyway, the rainforest and New Guinea dancers are still there. All we'd be asking is for the removal of the characters. It would hardly take them any time or money to do it. The closing of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at D-land called for the removal of one attraction to make way for another, so no wonder the protests didn't work. The company's plans were already set. They made a so-called "minor" change to Small World by adding the characters, so who's to say that such a minor change can't be reversed? All I'm asking everyone is that we at least try.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<The removal of the Small World Disney characters would be very minor.>> If they are minor changes, why are you making such a major deal out of them? But anyway, I don't think removal of the characters would be quite as easy as you image; it _would_ take some time and money to do it.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains <I'd be willing to compromise on the America scene. I'd love for them to remove that, but that would be asking for too much> Good to know you would be willing to work with them on that - I am sure that now they know what it is you want they can start working on it... Just in case you didn't realize, I am being completely sarcastic. For any change to take place I would imagine ridership would have to greatly fall off and when surveyed on why - people would have to say it was because of the addition of characters. I don't see this happening any time soon.
